Made in the USA NB’s – it gets no better! A typical mainstay of the New Balance Made In USA collection are the New Balance 997.
According to Sneaker Freaker, the New Balance 997 originally released in 1990 and was the design of Steven Smith. Aesthetically, the sneaker fits right in with other pairs that released at the time from other brands, such as the Nike Air Max 90.
Essentially, the sharply pointed toe and higher midsole towards the rear of the shoe epitomizes that “wedge” runner shape. This look goes in and out of style, however with fans of retro runners like the 997, the look is timeless.
I’ve picked up a number of colorways and have done reviews on them on this website numerous times. I guess you can say I’m a big fan of this model! From shape and retro flair to dope new materials and colorway combinations, I’m always checking for when a new pair drops.
How Are The Materials?
Of course, like other Made in USA New Balances, the materials are top notch! Soft, plush suedes and/or leathers typically make up the bulk of the materials, with some mesh and 3M hits to complete the look. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you’ll be hard pressed to find better materials than a pair of NB’s made in either the UK or the US. The high production cost also explains the high price tag on these.
How Do They Fit?
The New Balance 997 fit slightly large and are extremely comfortable. Some find the toebox to be narrow on these. I see what they’re saying, but it doesn’t affect me much thanks to the soft materials typically found on the uppers. The shape on the 997 is magical, besides certain pairs of Saucony I’ve rarely found a pointier retro runner toebox than the 997.
Here are some, but not all, of the specific pairs I’ve gotten:
New Balance 997 Explore By Sea
Colorway: Grey / Orange
Style Code: M997CSEA
Year of Release: 2016
MSRP: $210
New Balance 997 Coastal Pack
Colorway: Pink / Tan / Light Blue
Style Code: M997LBH
Year of Release: 2019
MSRP: $210